Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-21
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
VERMONT SCHOOLS
The Educational System of the state
Reviewed.

The Educational System of the state
Reviewed.
The Boston Journals well known cores
pondent, Forbes, gives in last Saturdays
issue an interesting detailed statement re-
garding the schools of Vermont, their pres
ent condition and shortcomings Although
the facts stated may throw no new light
upon the question, "How shall we prevent
the decadence Of our public schools and
diminish our percentage of illiteracy y they
may afford valuable information TO many
Of our readers We therefore reproduce
the article in a somewhat condensed form,
with the exception Of that portion relating
to collegiate institutions
Number aud Kind of schools.
Vermont has 2jOO district schools in round
numbers AZ graded or high schools, 20
academies, colleges, normal schools and
22j private schools. The value of all school
property, both public and private, is at
least -, 800 600. The various schools, acad-
enies and colleges in the state have an ag-
gregate seating capacity for 50, 600 scholars,
The common school system was established
in Vermont about 100 years ago, and the
OlSiiltl school mas ueeu llle lllpaL lOltlll ldC-
tor in the education of the rising genera
ton for nearly century. Early in the
present century several academies were es-
tablished, and these higher schools gradual
" increased in number until in 1860 there
were go in the state. The University of
Vermont and Middlebury college were both
founded about the year 1900.
The district school and the academy flour
shed to marked degree in ante bellum
days but the old order of things in the
educational field in Vermont is being done
away with by the adoption Of new methods
and an improved system Of education The
decadence Of the district school has been
discernble for a generation. The academies
have decreased since 1860 from 50 to %.
The number of school districts is about 800
less today than it was 20 years ago. or
the remaining 2l00 odd districts there are
over 400 which have less than dozen schol-
ars each who regularly attend the public
school The system Of education which has
materially contributed to the reduction OF
the number Of academies is the graded
school SYSTEM which was established in
1851. Graded schools exist in - towns
These schools have an aggregate enrolment
Of some -, 600 scholars, and annually grad
uate nearly 200 students from their high
school departments. Although the academ-
ical institutions in the state have been re
duced III number yet those which remain
in existence maintain a better and higher
standard of education than ever before.
Most of the academies Of today are in IA
tlourishing condition. They are all doing
excellent work and have capable and eff
cient principals. Quite number Of these
academies are literally endowed, and at
tract many students from other states
The - academies in the state have an ave
rage annual enrolment of nearly 5000 stu
dents. and the number Of graduates there
from each year is upward Of 200.
Academies and Heminariea.
The location and standing Of the several
scminaries and academies appears in the
C,lI,,yiutr tabla.